Gruelling new challenge for Jane

Jane Tomlinson has run a series of gruelling races

Terminal cancer sufferer Jane Tomlinson is to continue her push towards her £1m fundraising target by taking on one of the world's hardest physical races.

The 40-year-old from Rothwell in Leeds is taking on the three-quarter Ironman challenge in France - a 4km swim, 120km bike ride and 30km run.

Husband Mike Tomlinson said her recent appearances in triathlons were designed to build up to the event in Nice.

Her numerous challenges have raised almost £900,000 for cancer charities.

The intention was always to retire this year and nothing has changed Mike Tomlinson

The event, which takes place at the Nice seafront on 26 September, is expected to take around 11 hours.

Mrs Tomlinson will cover a distance three-times as long as the Olympic triathlon and her recent challenges in Salford, Dorset and London.

The cycle leg includes three mountain passes with three "haute" category climbs - which are too high to grade.

But the mother-of-three has experience of tackling such ascents having climbed the 1,909m Mont Ventoux in Provence on a tandem cycle with her brother Luke Goward.

She vowed never to complete another challenge following her "Rome to Home" challenge in June, but has decided to carry on to raise as much money as possible.

Mr Tomlinson, 43, said: "Jane is the only cancer patient anywhere in the world ever to have done a half-Ironman. The point of competing in Nice is to push that boundary higher.

Radiotherapy treatment

"Few healthy women the world over have competed in this scale of event so for Jane to do this is unbelievable.

"The intention was always to retire this year and nothing has changed. This will either be the last or penultimate event."

Mrs Tomlinson is scheduled to undergo a further five doses of radiotherapy starting on 9 September, which will disrupt her training and temporarily increase the pain she suffers.

Mr Tomlinson said the autumn would be her last chance to do such a huge event.